SUNDAY AM, 6TH UPDATE: Wait a minute — aren’t all the superheroes in San Diego at Comic-Con? With so much news from the Con coming hourly all weekend, it’s been tough to keep up with North American box office where yet another superhero pic unreeled this summer. Distributor Paramount had been expecting Marvel/Disney’s Captain America: The First Avengerto open with a $60+M weekend. But the studio on Sunday said the actual total is $65.8 million (even though rival studios put the total much less). Paramount’s figure would better this summer’s original superhero Thor’s $65.7M. But I believe we’ll have to wait until Monday’s actuals to decide who is the biggest superhero of the summer since Sunday’s number is just an estimate right now. As a Paramount exec replied to my questioning his number, “Harry Potter fell 16% last Sunday. We are estimating down 17%. Whether it ends up $65.8M or a little less, it crushed Green Lantern and X-Men: First Class” — both of which were this summer’s superhero movies but made and distributed by different studios (Warner Bros and Fox respectively). Saturday’s take for Captain America of $21.9M was -10% from Friday’s $25.7M North American grosses from 3,715 theaters including around 2,500 showing the movie in 3D. Friday’s take includes $4M midnights from 2,000 locations, better than Thor and Green Lantern as well as prequel/reboot X-Men: First Class. The movie earned an ‘A-‘ CinemaScore. (Thor earned a B+). Exit polls showed 43% of the audience was under age 25 vs 57% over age 25 while 64% were male vs 36% female. (Thor was 62% male & 28% under 25.)

Some in Hollywood thought Warner Bros holdover Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 might beat Captain America. But when a pic has set nearly every record for its opening, it’s bound for a steep decline. The franchise finale made $48M this weekend for a big -72% falloff from a record opening and record midnights and record single day a week ago.

In third place with $18.5M is Sony/Screen Gems’ R-rated Friends With Benefits; Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake missed bettering that other recent rom-com No Strings Attached ($19.7M, and it was originally titled Friends With Benefits, too). Full analysis within the hour.

The pic opened Comic-Con at a local theater on July 21st in advance of Friday’s release. Chris Evans even made a surprise appearance as USO girls gave out a Comic-Con exclusive poster. But at the Con this weekend, Marvel already has moved on to The Avengers where Captain America will mix it up with Iron Man, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, and other superheros in the publisher’s stable. But first there was the task of letting moviegoers meet Captain America: The First Avenger. Even Hollywood, which loves to see its rivals fail, felt this pic would open respectably. Because Marvel has opened all its films respectably so far. (Not a Green Lantern brick among them… When is WB/DC gonna get its act together without relying on Chris Nolan? Watchmen… Jonah Hex… bombs away.) From the start, the studio gave a cool retro feel to this World War II actioner about Steve Rogers who transforms from a proverbial 90lb weakling into 6-pack-abs Evans who’s not only easy on the eyes but can act like more than just a pumped-up uber-soldier. “Captain America is the ultimate underdog story,” one of the execs involved told me about positioning. “A physically weak man, who has infinite courage and drive, is transformed into the world’s first avenger.” And there are Nazis to vanquish as well. Cooler still.

Websites that do geek (I don’t) claim Captain America is the more mainstream superhero to make a big screen debut this summer, compared with Thor and Green Lantern. But that duo had far less competition when they opened, and certainly nothing like the Harry Potter finale in theaters. Intro-ing any new superhero is a bitch, but Marvel bitchslaps the competition again and again by doing it deftly. As far back as last October, Captain America was revealed on the cover of EW last year. Chris Evans presented with Thor‘s Chris Hemsworth at last January’s Golden Globes. The Superbowl spot was Twitter’s most talked about movie ad from the game. There was the usual heavy rotation of TV ads for the network season finales and sports playoffs and music shows. To make inroads with flyover country, the campaign made a big deal of the CMA Music Festival which features 750K attendees; 30 country radio stations sponsored fly-ins to celebrate Captain America Night on June 10th. Also to that end, the campaign did military outreach: the film was screened first on 30 U.S. military bases. I always thought that Captain America would attract a lot of patriotic fever because of its “Heroes are made in America” tagline.

Paramount launched Captain America‘s 3D trailer with Transformers 3. Interestingly, I’ve been reporting for weeks on Paramount’s pushy ways with theater owners as it distributed both these tentpole summer pics. (See Paramount Making Too Many 3D Demands?) For instance, Paramount dictated to exhibitors it’d be a four-week minimum to play Transformers: Dark Of The Moon in their Digital theaters. This strategy succeeded in keeping Disney/Pixar’s Cars 2 and Warner Bros’ Harry Potter And The Deathly Hollows Part 2 out of 3D dates. “But then, miraculously on July 22nd, Paramount will open those screens up to get Captain America opened on as many 3D screens as they can,” a source predicted to me. But now I’m tipped by exhibitors that Paramount is splitting its 3D screens for Captain America with Transformers 3, giving all but the last show and one afternoon show to the robots. “I’ve never seen a studio do something like this to one of its tentpole pics on its opening weekend,” the exhibition exec told me. Then again, Paramount owns the Transformers franchise and is only distributing Captain America whose future franchise releases will soon move to Marvel’s new owner Disney. Follow the money, folks.

There’s always been a question mark whether Captain America would do well overseas because of its jingoistic title. That’s why, in just a few territories, it’s being renamed The First Avenger. Paramount says the $2.8M opening in Italy this weekend is double the debut of X-Men: First Class there and +16% over the first Iron Man.

So what if it dropped -84% from Friday to Friday. It’s the last Harry Potter, folks. It’s making a fucking fortune and breaking a shitload of records. Its domestic haul after 10 days in release is already $274.1M. (Part 1‘s haul for the same period was only $219M.) “We will now settle in and enjoy the lucrative summer playtime breaking HP box office records along the way,” a Warner Bros exec assures me. The entire Harry Potter franchise just passed $7B in worldwide grosses. Relax your crack, naysayers. This is box office magic.

Sony and New Line keep competing to see how many unnecessary rom-coms they can shove down our throats. This one earned a ‘B+’ CinemaScore. Polling showed that 62% of the opening audience was female vs 38% male, while 44% and 44% under age 25 vs 56% over age 25. “Exits show very high definite recommend ratings and we expect the film to continue to play well in the weeks ahead,” a Sony exec said Sunday. But despite its interesting casting, Friends With Benefits is R-rated and self-conscious especially when it comes to its dialogue. Even the title is tired. Which is surprising considering director Will Gluck made the way less formulaic sleeper Easy A. Then again Screen Gems claims its budgetwas only $34 million. As usual with these kinds of pics, it was marketing to within an inch of its life. The trailers certainly did a better job than most at hinting this movie wasn’t just the usual coupling when, of course, it was. Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis went out of their way to hype the pic, appearing together as presenters at the Academy Awards, MTV Movie Awards, Spike Guy’s Choice Awards, the Espy’s, and so on. “These appearances collectively helped established them as the hot co-stars of the moment and the hot on-screen couple of the moment,” a Sony exec tells me. Barf. Of course, Justin also hosted the season finale of SNL in May, which posted the highest ratings that show has seen in years. (That episode was repeated last Saturday as well.) Online, Screen Gems launched a Red Band clip last Friday that became one of the most watched videos on Youtube in the U.S. this week. Gluck also produced Friends with Benefits along with Martin Shafer, Liz Glotzer, Jerry Zucker, and Janet Zucker. The screenplay is by Keith Merryman & David A. Newman, along with Gluck. Story is by Harley Peyton and Keith Merryman & David A. Newman.

191 Comments

Solid from beginning to end. Evans really stepped up to the plate on this one. Probably the best movie to come out of Marvel since…ever!

Monica • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

This was by far the worst movie I have seen all year!!! So boring…terrible ending. Wish I had passed. Nothing against Evans…too my history and not enough action.

Studio Executive • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Yeah! Fuck history!

All I wannna see is some tits and explosions!

Charl • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

You must not have seen Sucker Punch.

xfiler • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

agreed. Sucker Punch was the worst…wow..was it bad.

score • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Ahahaha +1

Jack • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Sucker Punch was much better than green Lantern though…

The Ronin • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Worst movie? too much history? it was set in world war 2 and that is about it.

And it was beyond awesome. So, I respectfully disagree with you Monica.

Robert • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Clearly you don’t know him in the comics. The movie was spot on action wise. Cap has never been about the big action set pieces. Sorry you want him to be like other heroes.

another Monica • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

To each their own…I’m glad Monica’s tastes are not in the majority.

Monica • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Again, it was a snorefest. My entire family of 6 did not enjoy it. And some of you are right…I DON’T know him in the comics…that’s not my thing, but that’s doesn’t mean I wouldn’t enjoy the movie. You can tell the history of Captain America without it being so damn boring!!! And I am NOT the only one that thinks so!!! :-)

Didn’t know a damn thing about Thor…enjoyed the hell out of that.

Douglas J. Bender • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

“Damn”…”damn”…”hell”

Ah, a wordsmith. Fluent in the English language, and not afraid to show it (much like the reviewer).

Personally, I think the movie looks like it would be very enjoyable, on many levels. I wanted to see it Friday (opening) night, but was not able. I then wanted to see it at least on the second day it was showing, but still couldn’t. So, I plan/hope to see it this coming Friday, the second weekend it is showing. I hope it’s as good as it seems it should be. (Oh, I forgot — “crap”…”darn”…”heck”.)

Sage • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

I guess youll be waiting for sleepless in seattle part deux

Ben Decho • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

You see, that’s where you are mistaken. Sleepless in Seattle was GREAT because Tom Hanks was in it. Every Tom Hanks movie is great, because…. Tom Hanks is in it.

Don’t you remember Joe vs. the Volcano?
Or… Cast Away (oh, I’m sorry, we are supposed to like watching a MOVIE (sound and video) for 45 minutes with no talking)
Or….. Dragnet

I wonder if Rosey O’Donnell will fly Meg Ryan all over the world again, at the expense of the company they work for, to meet me?

Or like in Philadelphia, where Tom Hanks lies to his bosses about working on the big account, and is working at nights, but is staying home because he’s ashamed of his hideous appearance because he had aids. But, lying pays, he wins the big law suit and we all have faith in the judicial system, because in the end (no pun intended), it’s Tom Hanks that won the money!

JohnDoe • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Troll.

? • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

what are you talking about? Who’s “Tom Hanks?”

Dennis • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

it was not the worst movie it was awesome just like all the marvel movies “Suckerpunch” was stupid and just “really bad and really weird” “Captain America” is a cool movie and stuck with the Comic Book’s Origin

Banjo • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

just so it’s clear now: Marvel superheroes are still going strong. it’s DC heroes that are dead :)

Logan • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Whenever I hear the name Captain America, I keep seeing the scene from Men in black Part 1, where Will Smith goes to the MIB written test and he kids around with his rod-up-his-ass neighbor.

Justin P. • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

That doesn’t make sense at all.

just bob • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Not quite on par with IM1. Best since, tho. IMO. Marvel Studios is setting the standard on how to do comic movies. I like that Thor, IM, and Cap’n have roughly the same tone to them. They play together quite nicely. Problem with IM2 is that it went overboard. Should have been a different movie altogether.

Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern don’t even feel like they’re in the same universe. But Nolan can’t do everything. Can he?

Anonymous • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

I’ve seen 3 different trailers and I still have no idea what it’s about. Pass. I have super hero overload. I’m done.

BK • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Seriously? The trailers are quite easy to follow – a man who’s weak in body but strong in character gets picked to undergo a procedure to become the US Army’s “super soldier” – becomes the WWII-era superhero Captain America. There’s really not much to it.

Actually he’s battling his nemesis, The Red Skull played brilliantly by Hugo Weaving.

Scott • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

You, sir, are an idiot.

The Ronin • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Uh? where did you get he defeats Hitler from?

Hitler is not even in the movie, the movie is not really about World War 2, that is just the setting it takes place in. A weak but brave man becomes the apex of humanity and ends up fighting against a mysterious organization working for the Nazis.

And it was really really fun, go check it out.

Robert • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

You do realize that Captain America’s story is 70 years old? That it was written back in the days where we actually feared Nazi invasions. He was the original anti-nazi hero.

CMG • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Exactly. Jack Kirby and Joe Simon pretty much gave readers exactly what they wanted at the time, and taking Kirby’s Jewish heritage (not sure about Simon’s religion) into account, Captain America was an idealist archetype for good against evil of the period for many people not unlike the early Detective Comics heroes like Superman or Batman (and still today a lot of people confuse Captain America with being a DC comics superhero).

Spencer • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

It was also written back in the days when having ‘America’ in a title would actually attracted people.

Do yourself a favor and go see it. I was hoping it was going to be good but was really apprehensive. Glad I saw it. Realy good movie.

Nathen • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

I have to totally agree with the person who said that they were in superhero overload and that they didn’t see Captain America. How many comic superheroes can we make/remake? I totally was into the Spider-man Trilogy but since then Hollywood has milked this idea for all that it’s worth. Pretty soon they’ve got to run out of heroes. It’s not that I am totally against comic book heroes but once again Hollywood has failed to be original and is trying to repeat (and repeat and repeat) what has brought them $$$ The dollars are the bottom line here. Until Hollywood either runs out of comic book heroes or starts raking in less money for these movies people who would like to see movies that have different ideas and different twists are going to have to wait.

John Whorfin • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

It deserves it – it’s a better movie than those other three combined. Definitely Marvel’s best movie since Iron Man.

sp • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Captain America already opened out? Didn’t even hear about it.

'Merica • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

With those numbers, you must be the only one. This is going to be a hit, and I am very happy for everyone involved.

Anon • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

This isn’t that great of an opening for a movie that has been hyped all year long. Fast 5 made more than most of the superhero stuff. The fantasy genre that sported such hits as POTC and Harry Potter is still where the money is at. The last Twilight film has the chance to be one of the biggest this year. Superhero films all cost in excess of a hundred million before you get to advertising. It doesn’t sound like that great of an investment for a studio. No wonder Hollywood is snapping up every YA fantasy that goes to print.

Jcar • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Yeah, I don’t get it. I remember people being luke warm and slightly disappointed about Thor only making 65 million its opening weekend (I remember explanations such as “Thor is just a second tier superhero, so 65 million is what should be expected”). Yet Captain America makes 66 million and its spoken of like it’s a smash success? “The biggest super hero film of the summer!” Is one million dollars really that big of a difference?

Not that either film is a failure. They’re not. But still, I do wonder how long Marvel can keep this up.

optimist prime • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

I guess it’s just ‘reduced expectations’. See, my crap-box condo is no longer worth $600g but if i could get $400g I’d be thrilled. Altho, $350g is more likely.

David • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

UM. “Captain America” toppled “Harry Potter” – which had an 84% drop-off. And $66 million for an opening weekend makes it the third highest opening of the summer. And Hollywood is “snapping up” every superhero fantasy that’s in print – because they make tons of money.

Just because you have some personal problem with super hero movies doesn’t ALTER FACTS, buddy.

optimist prime • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

OK. Just ask ‘Green Lantern’ and ‘Jonah Hex’ if they made tons of money. That new X-men didn’t exactly back up the truck either. FF2. Superman. Hulks. Scott Pilgrim. Judge Dredd.

in fact, they cost a ton of money.

CMG • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

The success of Sin City confused people if a graphic novel could be a moneymaker. People forget it had an all-star cast. Its successors pretty much had to have a certain formula of no story and a lot of action plus naked people, a la 300. V for Vendetta was popular to a degree because the Wachowskis did not have their names completely sullied at that point and had a basic premise of dystopia that was a perfect zeitgeist for many people debating the war on terror.

Watchmen barely made money after its opening weekend and was too hard to follow or get for people who did not read the source material, and even fans who read it had a mixed response. The others like Scott Pilgrim were too niche to make money even if it got good word of mouth and critical response not to mention a very credible director.

Then you have the regular adaptations, they make money but the studios aim for building a franchise. Green Lantern was a failure for the franchise potential (and considering DC also was riding on their animated series for GL to get a good jump start with the movies), even if The Fantastic Four had a sequel it was an incredible failure, Fox basically pulled the plug on more X-Men origins stand alone films, and Warner Bros. wants you to forget Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns.

dan • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Merchandising. Superhero films sell a lot of toys. It’s more than just the box office, of which 66 million is a great opening.

Winton • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Looks great, can’t wait to see it this weekend.

Andrew • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Saw it at a midnight showing last night here in New York – really great movie, much better than THOR (although I generally liked it, it didnt set my world on fire). Loved that they reached down into the story and really worked the story rather than just making it an action flick… Can’t tell you the last time I got so invested in a super hero movie. Great to look at, funny and Chris Evans really sells his “still skinny on the inside” awkwardness throughout the movie. A total win. I would actually see it again.

As usual, stay til after the credits for some good stuff. :)

setzer • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Captain America and its story is 70 years old and created to combat the Nazis. Sp, you’re an idiot.

wrtrprod7 • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

GO CAPTAIN AMERICA!

moviergoer • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Reviews starting to come in from the general public say they are loving it. Must be something about the film that is good.

carole • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

great film

optimist prime • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Was pretty OK, and I hate most movies. As far as sci-fi and comic book movies go, the most one can ask for is mediocre. Suspension of disbelief is extremely hard to pull off, suspension of reality is almost impossible.

The Ronin • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

No, no its not, suspension of disbelief is quite easy. Much like an audience at a magic show the audience in a movie theater WANTS to be entertained, they want to see amazing things, their suspension of disbelief is dialed way way down the minute they sit in that seat.

And considering fantasy and science fiction movies have made a lot of money over the years it would suggest maybe it is just you that has the issue with suspension of disbelief.

Perhaps you should come to terms with the fact it is just you, try to only watch documentaries, maybe the ocasional romantic comedy or the like and not comment on movies with fantastic elements?

I mean If i was blind I wouldn’t post comments about how the movie sucks because nothing was on the screen.

optimist prime • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

I bet you’re a big Transformers fan.

Nathen • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Suspension of disbelief is not important? I may not be a huge movie goer but I know a lot about fiction and literature and suspension of disbelief is the most important thing. A person goes into a movie, play, or reads a book and they 100% know that it isn’t real. So the author/writer/whomever has to get past that fact and make the movie, etc, REALLY take that person into a different reality for the whole time they participate. Think of all the movies, etc that you have disliked or even mocked. Chances are that you laughed at them because it was obvious that for whatever reason you couldn’t buy into what you were seeing.

incredulous • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

I just saw Captain America at a 7 o’clock showing in the heart of the midwest. Unlike Harry Potter, which was selling out 6 screens in this one horse, two multiplex town, it failed to fill the auditorium even though it is only on three screens. I thought it was an OK,but not great movie. We’ll have to wait and see if it is a hit.

60+M Friday • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

at first glance thought you said it made $60 million in one day, after picking myself off the floor and re reading… solid opening.

nash • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

I just saw Friends with Benefits. Mila Kunis is adorable, but Justin Timberlake CAN NOT ACT. He’s painful to watch. His readings are amateurish, his delivery is one note. He has no depth. Why does everyone think he can act?!? That is the very last movie I will ever see him in again; his presence is distracting.

nina • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

and with a 20mil+ opening.. we’ll NEVER get rid of him!!!

bob • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

I disagree – Timberlake is actually really funny/charming in the movie. So is Mila Kunis. The whole story with Timberlake’s dad and alzheimer’s is where the movie goes wrong.

Veteran Assistant • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Hey, Bob! Is your last name Spoiler? Thanks!

Bigbowood • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

You’re both right: he’s VERY charming in this but despite that his acting is, in fact, atrocious. He was distractingly bad in Social Network, too. Mila Kunis, on the other hand, is fantastic… This woman is a major movie star in the making. Timberlake’s performance would’ve looked even worse without her.

And the Alzheimer’s thing isn’t really a spoiler, this isn’t exactly the kind of film with massive surprising twists.

Overall, the movie is very funny and enjoyable. If u want a rom com that’s better written, funnier, and sexier than anything with Kate Hudson that won’t bore straight guys, it’s a good bet.

Anonymous • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

You’re gonna find yourself in the minority on this one. JT is a good actor and great comedic talent. The kid is charisma personified.

Whatever • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

You’re way alone in your estimation. Bother to actually read what people think on Twitter, Tumblr or any frigging critics.

The guy is a dud. Urgh. But he is keeping some woman with power happy in Hollywood so they WILL make him a star! Just keep on putting him with an amazing cast but keep on giving Timberlake all the publicty. Winner!

I preferred him in Nsync! Those blonde curls baby and those tight lycra tops!

nina • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

I’m the minority? Are you for real? You mean people in the USA actually think he’s a good actor??????? Oh man, there’s no hope for you americans, none at all!

tim • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

“You Americans?” Way to generalize, dumbsh*t. A couple of commenters now represent the entire country.

Stevieg • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Yeah your definitely gonna be in the minority but hey your certainly entitled to that opinion. JT is a fine actor and always enjoyable to watch and given time he will develop into a much better actor I’m sure.

jp • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Nash, Justin Timberlake was not bad in ” Alpha Dog”, but his other film performances have been mediocre ( his performance in The Social Network was only average. ) . He is charming ( and annoyingly smug ) on SNL and some of his music videos, but he cannot translate his charisma to the big screen. In this movie, Justin’s acting is almost cringe-worthy , he has very little film presence, and he is bland. He makes Adam Sandler look like Daniel Day-Lewis. One of the main problems with Justin , he is still very boyish – not manly whatsoever. Trust me, Timberlake is no threat to another musician turned actor, Will Smith.

P.S. ” Friends with Benefits” is awful on every level. Patricia Clarkson and Woody Harrelson couldn’t save the bad material. Mila Kunis was overacting throughtout this mess of this film. Hopefully, Kunis can find better material.

Nathen • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

I liked Timberlake in Social Network but that was at best a supporting role.

HollyweirdZombies • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Captain America was great. I’m usually a DC fan but Marvel has done right by Thor, Iron Man and now Captain America. I love the Green Lantern comics but the film was lacking. DC needs to step it up to compete with the Marvel product.

The Ronin • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

I agree, Although DC’s animation wing has been doing a kick ass job. Maybe they need to produce their own films the way Marvel has been doing?

CMG • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

I get really scared when they not only let their TV franchises far exceed their shelf-life or greenlight complete disasters (David E. Kelley’s Wonder Woman pilot) but give the keys to their biggest franchises in their movies dept. to Zack Snyder.

Still, I think maybe it is time for DC to reconsider live-action procedural spins on their titles and not so much movies, considering outside of Superman and Batman they cannot seem to get real footing. Not saying do another Aquaman show but a twist on the same magic they had in the 90s with their animation taken to the realms of live-action. Same central characters involved but a different twist, perspective on the DC universe. A Gotham Central series is begging for a TV adaptation. Still, it needs to be done right and DC really has not respected their product judging by whose hands have gotten on their titles.

Oh well, at least Green Lantern’s animated series looks promising.

High Hopes... • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Hopefully, this marks the “full turn,” of the industry… No more of the political crap films masking as “dramas or action movies.” Audiences have spoken. Give them what they want and the industry will do fine….

jac • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Captain America was dull, cheesy, and the romantic side plot never won me. Tommy lee jones might have been the best part. Xmen is still the surprising best superhero movie of the summer

Monica • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

The romance in this movie was the final nail in the coffin for me. TERRIBLE.

CMG • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Would it had helped if they just let Peggy remain a French Resistance fighter like in the comic?

Regardless of how much they changed her character to have more proximity to the character, she was always part of the canon and even when Captain finds himself in 2011, Peggy is also connected to Steve’s life too. If Peggy had been written out I would have been upset.

Monica • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

I have no knowledge of the comic, I just didn’t like how it played out…or didn’t for that matter. I’m not much for unhappy endings/bitter sweet endings. I go to the movies to be entertained, and leave in a good mood. Definitely didn’t happen with Captain America.

I didn’t like Captain America folks, but I WILL be seeing the Avengers movie…mainly becuase of Hemsworth ;-)

Fox Hound • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

$60+ mil is impressive. This reminds me of the Team America/Cap America mash up trailer.

AMERICA! F… YEAH!

halfmadjesus • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

So, yeah – superhero movies are played out and people are tired of them, or something…

Bella Azbug • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Clearly selling all these tickets shows that America hates liberal Hollywood and its do-good communists.

mark • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Um – you DO realize that HOLLYWOOD and all the “do-good” (as if that’s a reason to attack someone? wow) “communists”…MADE “CAPTAIN AMERICA”, right? RIGHT?

Bella • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Sorry, I was being snarky and it wasn’t apparent. I see tons of posts on here remarking how a movie doesn’t do well because America is sick of leftist stars and Hollywood. My comment was to point out that Hollywood did produce a patriotic movie and that America made it a hit. Now, I have to go worship a picture of Stalin.

Michael • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Goodbye Potter, glad to see you go! Goodbye Potter. You couldn’t even beat a second-tier superhero.

mark • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Uh…”go”? “Potter” has almost made a billion dollars already and has broken every box office record there is to break. What are you talking about?

CMG • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Yeah it’s still on pace to make a billion dollars world wide and had the biggest opening week ever. Did you sleep under a rock for a good 10 days?

And anybody into the comics scene right now knows Captain America is not second-tier nor has been for a good while thanks to some of the best people in the industry writing for under his title. Iron Man was second-tier before the movies and who knows the fate of those films or The Avengers film franchise had Robert Downey Jr. not taken the role of Tony Stark. But still, Captain America could have had some huge A-List star in the role and probably would have had the same result as Iron Man. The origins story of Captain America is pretty stand alone since he is much older than other comic titles and way more tied to pop history than say Thor, Iron Man, or The Fantastic Four.

Liz • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

miracle.

A billion bucks? With the amount of breathless hype and studio moolah slathered over it, HP#Whatever would only be noteworthy it DIDN’T make that amount. Inflation and 3D surcharges have already secured billion dollar status for mediocre films like Alice in Wonderland and Pirates 4, for crying out loud.

But the domestic grosses tell the real story. If you discount ticket price inflation, actual attendance numbers for Potter have gone down, not up, over the years.

Liz • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Lost my first sentence somehow. To repeat: Advertising and media hype are always the key in making huge box office grosses, yet fans of these franchises seem to view the films’ success as some kind of miracle.

CMG • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Warner Bros. may make the movie domestic but Harry Potter was a British film, filmed in Britain largely with British directors for a British cast. It is a British and global institution more than Hollywood standard fare, not unlike the 007 movie franchise.

Jack~Patriot in the Uk • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Liz, You rank among the biggest idiots ever to post on here!!! ‘The domestic numbers’ do not tell the real story. The worldwide numbers tell the real story. Companies don’t care where the business comes from! Attendance to Potter have gone down in the USA but other countries don’t go ‘Some communist idiot have made this movie so even though I liked the last one i won’t go back!’ Alice was awesome. You’re stupid. Stop acting like your country matters more than all the other ones put together. Idiot.
P.s. i agree with most of what optimist prime has been saying

Cruella • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Captain America = movie for jingoists

Justin P. • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

That’s b.s., Cruella.

optimist prime • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Cruella, maybe you need to actually see the movie. At no point was this an arrogant ‘America is #1′ movie.

Cruella sux ballz • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

This liberal progressive liked Captain America. So suck it.

The Late GS • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Guys like Stanley Tucci don’t take roles in movies that have no substance.

Captain America was 75% character work, 25% action. And the action leaned toward the tail end of the film.

rev3 • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

uh, burlesque?

Z • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Every once in a while great talents with lots of self respect take projects like Burlesque so that they can put the down payment on that 7 million dollar vacation home they wanted.

See: john malkovich and Francis McDormand in Transformers 3

Brian G • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

jingoistic crap. No doubt one of the worst Ideas and dumbest plots ever, with horrible acting and poor special effects. I won’t waste my money seeing it and won’t watch it when it is on free tv in a month or two. Bush is gone. Stop trying to be like him and act like America is something special.

halfmadjesus • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Yes – be unabashedly proud in your ignorance!

Veteran Assistant • on Jul 24, 2011 5:01 am

Oh, look! Bush Derangement Syndrome has now infected Deadline Hollywood too! How that hope and change thing working out for you, pal? So, let me get this straight…you make comments about the film in your little “mini-review” and then tell us you haven’t even seen it. Got it. Makes sense. Oh, and America *is* something special. You’re here, aren’t you? Oh, wait, maybe you’re not, which in that case we really don’t care what you have to say. Bye, bye.